Jakub Kiwior was not included in the Arsenal squad to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, with Mikel Arteta's latest decision casting doubt over his future
02:58, 01 Sep 2025
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, gestures during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on August 31, 2025 in Liverpool, England
Mikel Arteta has raised questions about the defenders future(Image: Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has raised questions about Jakub Kiwior's future at Arsenal.
The 25 year old defender, who was signed by the Gunners from Spezia in January 2023 for £20m, was left out of the squad that travelled to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Despite playing a crucial role in the Gunners' team towards the end of last season, he is been strongly linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium. Kiwior was in the starting line-up for each of the north London side's final nine games of the Premier League season as they secured second place in the league.
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Villarreal at Emirates Stadium on August 06, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Kiwior played during the pre-season friendly matches(Image: Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)
The Polish international also started eight times for Arsenal in the Champions League, including five appearances in the knockout stages. Despite his contributions, Arteta seems to have sidelined him this season.
Over the summer, the Gunners brought in Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia, who was chosen over Kiwior for the bench during the Liverpool match. Andrea Berta also appears close to finalising a deal for Piero Hincapie, which could push the Polish centre-back further down the selection order, reports Football London.
Porto has been suggested as a possible destination for Kiwior, but it remains uncertain whether they'll secure his services before Monday night's deadline. Perhaps in anticipation of a departure, the defender was not included in the squad for the trip to Merseyside.
Back in April, Arteta couldn't stop raving about Kiwior after he stepped into the breach during Gabriel Magalhaes' spell on the sidelines. Following Arsenal's 2-1 triumph over Fulham, the Gunners gaffer told journalists: "The good thing with Jakub is that he's been very reliable.
"Every time we need him he's always there, he's available and he does his job. We ask him to play as a left centre-back, as a right centre-back, as a left full-back. He's ready, he's got a smile on his face."
LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal during the Arsenal training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre on August 25, 2025 in London Colney, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Kiwior is very well liked in the dressing room(Image: David Price, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Several weeks down the line, with Bournemouth looming on the horizon, Arteta was still singing the Polish defender's praises.
The Spanish tactician gushed: "He's so likeable. Everybody really loves him in that dressing room.
"He's very vocal on the pitch. He obviously had a language barrier at the beginning when he joined us. Now he's much more open with the boys, and he gets on really well with everybody. So I'm very happy with him."
Prior to their Champions League semi-final second leg showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, Arteta branded Kiwior as nothing short of 'exceptional'. The Arsenal chief explained: "Well, again, he deserves a lot of credit because he hasn't played too much throughout many months.
"And, suddenly he's been thrown into the most difficult context, at the highest level, playing against the best opponents, when you haven't had the physical rhythm or the confidence to do it, and I think he's been exceptional."
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